Collapsible mast



July27, 1954 T. F. COUTURIER COLLAPSIBLE MAST Filed Nov. 20. 1948 INVENTOR.

w m nrromvzyfi TRACY F. COUTUR\ER BY M,

Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a collapsible anchor mast for fishing lines.

In fishing apparatus of the general type illustrated in Althoff, No. 1,163,193, a rigid anchor mast fixed to a dock or pier or other similar support has heretofore been used. It is the object 01 the present invention to provide an anchor mast which is collapsible to such compact form that it can readily be transported, and yet may almost instantly be erected at the point of use.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the invention to provide a collapsible anchor mast having a brace holding it erect on its base in position for use, the mast being collapsible and having a relatively movable portion which, in the collapsed position, holds all of the parts unitarily in position for storage or transportation.

The invention will be more clearly apparent from the following disclosure thereof, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of my improved anchor mast as it appears when set up on a sloping surface.

Fig. 2 is a view of the anchor mast as it appears when set up in position for use on a plane surface.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the mast in perspective, showing the parts open in position for use.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing the parts folded.

'The base, generically designated by reference character 5, comprises a pair of spaced longitudinal members 6 and I connected at their ends by transverse cleats 8 and 9 and further connected intermediate their ends by a transverse cleat at it. Fastened to the cleats 9 and I0 is an intermediate longitudinal member II which is very short, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The entire width of the base is desirably no greater than the width of the minnow pail I2, which may rest on one end thereof to serve as a Weight, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1.

The end of the base near cleat 9 may be provided with extension legs [3 and I4 pivoted to the base by means of screws I5, the legs being cross connected by seats l6, H. The collapsible braces l8, l9 hold the legs erected for use as in Figs. 1 and 3, but are releasable to permit the legs to be folded to the position of Fig. 4. Each leg is desirably provided with a button 20 pivoted thereto for engagement over the base to hold the legs collapsed.

The mast, to which the power line 2| may be anchored, comprises a first section 22 having a hinge 23 connecting it with the central base stringer H. The mast section 22 is of such length that when it is lowered it extends to the end of the base frame, resting on the cleat B as shown in Fig. 4. In this position, the stringer l I and mast section 22 are in alignment and together equal the length of the respective side stringers 6 and i of the base.

The mast section 22 is provided at 24 with a notch into which the mitered end 25 of the brace 25 is received as best shown in Fig. 3. The brace 26 desirably extends at approximately a fortyfive degree angle from the base stringer I I, being provided with a hinge at 2'! by which it is connected thereto. The hinge is so located that when the brace is swung to its collapsed position shown in Fig. 4, the brace lies directly on the short central stringer II of the base and ends approximately flush therewith. The hinged end 28 of the brace is bevelled at approximately forty-five degrees, assuming the brace to seat at that angle.

The mast section 22 is provided with spaced bolts 29 and 30 upon which there are wing nuts 3! Slidable upon these bolts is the slotted mast section 32, to the free end of which the power line 2| is fastened, when the mast section 32 is in its extended position. The length of the slot 33 is such that the mast extension section 32 can he slid upwardly to a point where it only slightly laps the mast section 22, or it may be slid downwardly to project beyond the hinged end of mast section 22 when. the latter is folded down.

The lower end of the extension mast section 32 is desirably bevelled at 3 t at approximately forty-five degrees, or at least at an angle which desirably corresponds to the angle at which the hinged end 28 of the brace 25 is bevelled. Thus, with the mast section 22 folded downwardly to rest on cleat 8 at its free end, and the brace 26 disengaged thereby from notch 24 and swung outwardly upon its hinge to the position shown in Fig. 4, the extension member 32 of the mast may be slid across hinge 23 of mast section 22 and into engagement with the end 28 of the base. When held in this position by the wing nuts 3|, this mast section will eifectively lock both the mast section 22 and the brace in their respective positions.

One or both of the mast sections may be provided with live winding hooks at 35, 36, 31 and 38 (Fig. 3). The clearance between lateral stringers B and I is such as to readily receive these line winding hooks when the mast sections are folded therebetween as illustrated in Fig. whereby these are out of the way.

It will be observed that the device is extremely compact and light. It is readily manually portable, yet, when erected, provides a strong and stable structure to which the line 2| may be $8- curely anchored. Even on a sloping pier such as is shown in Fig. 1, the weight of a minnow bucket with its contents of water and bait is sufiicient to hold the mast stable. The legs are desirably provided with spikes or pins as at their ends for use under these conditions.

I claim:

1. The combination with a base having an end portion, of a brace member pivoted to the base near the end portion and movable upon its pivot from a collapsed position in which the brace extends toward the end portion to an operative position in which said brace extends upwardly at an angle to the base, a first mast section hinged to the base in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of the brace thereto to receive support from the base, said first mast section being provided with a shoulder against which said brace seats in its operative position, said first mast section being hingedly movable from an upright position in which said shoulder receives said brace to a collapsed position in which said first mast section lies upon the base, and an extension mast section mounted on the first mast section and provided with means guiding it for sliding movement upon the first mast section, said extension mast section being retractable upon said means in the collapsed position of the first mast section to a position where the extension mast section laps the hinged connection of the first mast section and engages the pivoted end of the collapsed brace.

2. A device of the character described comprising a frame having a stringer, a mast section hinged to said stringer and movable on said hinge between a collapsed position in which said mast section constitutes an extension of said stringer and an erected position in which said mast sec- 1 tion is at an angle to said stringer, a brace member mounted on said stringer and in contact with said mast section in its erected position, an extension mast section, and means for mounting said extension mast section on said mast section for relative movement longitudinally thereof between an extended position in which the extension mast section is beyond the hinge and a retracted position in which the extension mast section laps the hinge to overlie the stringer in the collapsed position of the mast section whereby to interlock said mast and stringer.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said frame comprises a skeleton base having laterally spaced longitudinally extending stringers at both sides of said stringer and extending beyond the end thereof to which the mast section is hinged, and transverse cleats connecting said laterally spaced stringers near their ends, said mast section being of such length to extend to one of said transverse cleats in its collapsed position.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the brace is hinged to said stringer at a point spaced from the mast section hinge, said mast section being provided with a shoulder engageable by said brace when the mast section is erected and the brace swung on its hinge for engagement with said shoulder, said brace being provided with a shoulder adjacent its hinge and engageable by the extension mast section in the retracted position of the extension mast whereby to interlock with the brace in said position thereby holding the brace and both mast sections in collapsed position for transportation.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the end of the brace adjacent its hinge is mitered to constitute said shoulder, the end of the extensible mast section being complementarily mitered whereby to interlock with said brace in the retracted positions of said brace and said extensible mast section.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said frame comprises a skeleton base having laterally spaced longitudinally extending stringers at both sides of said stringer and extending beyond the end thereof to which the mast section is hinged and transverse cleats connecting said laterally spaced stringers near their ends, said mast section being of such length to extend to one of said transverse cleats in its collapsed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 155,432 Donnell Sept. 29, 1874 603,633 Green May 10, 1898 808,989 Kingston Jan. 2, 1906 981,631 Fraser Jan. 17, 1911 1,836,126 Luce Dec. 15, 1931 1,901,726 Bonnet Mar. 14, 1933 2,412,678 Goldman Dec. 17, 1946 2,446,093 Lambert July 27, 1948 2,514,397 Joyce July 11, 1950 2,524,490 Swett Oct. 3, 1950 

